The Messenger Vol. 54 No. 01 January 2016

The Messenger a publication of the Evangelical

Mennonite Conference

Volume 54  No. 01  January 2016

So What is Happening in Christian Higher Education?

Dr. Rob Reimer, President of Steinbach Bible College

page 13

ALSO INSIDE:

The Twelve Greatest Words Ever Put on Paper! page 6 A Case for Christ-centred Nonviolence page 10 Living With Refugees page 16

Ministerial Ponders Gospel of Reconciliation page 22

$2.00

ISTOCK

Council Approves Budget and Magazine Analysis page 19

Editorials

Life and death in 2016

F

ollowing Christ in life is not an optional extra.

Going to church is not just a nice idea. The Church is not just another social institution. We are talking here about a matter of life and death.

A part of historic Christianity is Jesus Christ’s rightful claim on every man, woman, and child (Heb. 1:1-3, John 3:16-18). Who else could claim this except Jesus, God who became also man? It is revealed by his life, death, and resurrection. Our Lord came for our wholeness, reconciliation, well-being, fulfillment, our salvation individually and together (Rom. 1, 5, 8).

Because Jesus Christ alone is the Saviour of the world (John 3:16, 14:6; Acts 4:12), we must consider carefully his relationship to world religions. As Dr. David Schroeder said years ago, we must look carefully at what Christ fulfills, removes, and adds.

It isn’t that Christians are right and others are wrong.

It’s that Christ is right and we all have gone astray (Is. 53:8).

There is a time of judgment (Heb. 9:27) with two possible ends (Rev. 20:13-15). The final verdict is God’s role; Christians are unqualified to pronounce it. Yet knowing Christ’s call, we invite and seek to persuade (2 Cor. 5:11).

Yes, the Church has many shortcomings. We can neither ignore them nor dismiss the Church because of them.

See 2 Corinthians for Paul’s confidence in a struggling church. This is also part of the Good News.

“We know…that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

Why follow Christ, plant new churches, care about the growth of all churches, share and live the Good News?

Because life in Christ matters as nothing else does.

– Terry M. Smith

Christ's claim on us is revealed by his life, death, and resurrection. Our Lord came for our wholeness, reconciliation, well-being, fulfillment, our salvation individually and together.

••

2016, an old year

O

ne day this year will seem long ago and people will wonder what Christians did during it. Or perhaps not. Have you thought about what happened in AD 250, 500, 1000, or 1250? Not likely, unless you’re a history buff.

Yet what happened then does influence what shapes us today. Similarly, what we do today has implications for tomorrow. So use 2016 well as an investment in the future of others. Let this year become old with the presence and grace of Christ.

Sometimes advice is given to “Live each day as if it were your last.” This isn’t realistic or helpful. If today were our final day, we likely would not live

2 The Messenger • January 2016

it—as most people must—as a day linked to many others.

Nor is it clear what it means to “Live each day to the max.”

What does this mean to a janitor who cleans toilets or to a homemaker who washes dishes?

A monk, who was sweeping a corridor, was once asked what he would do if he knew Christ was coming back that day. He replied that he would keep on sweeping the corridor. He thought, evidently, he was serving Christ mindfully in this ordinary task and this was enough for the moment (Luke 16:10).

May we use our time well in the many ordinary and few extraordinary tasks that this old year will bring!

– Terry M. Smith

So use 2016 well as an investment in the future of others.

Let this year become old with the presence and grace of Christ.

Table of Contents Features

Columns

6

5

– Russell Doerksen

10 A Case for Christ-centred Nonviolence – Dr. Preston Sprinkle

An Education App

Sabbaticals and the Golden Rule – Terry M. Smith

25 Further In and Higher Up

13 So What is Happening in Christian Higher Education? 34 Here and Far Away – Dr. Rob Reimer

16 Living With Refugees – Menno Plett

19 Council approves budget and magazine analysis – Terry M. Smith

22 Ministerial ponders gospel of reconciliation

page

17

In the Shadow of Mennonite Terrorism – Layton Friesen Rest at Kerith Pines – Jocelyn R. Plett

35 Stewardship Today

God loves a cheerful receiver – Arnie Friesen

ISTOCK

The Twelve Greatest Words Ever Put on Paper!

page

22

36 Kids’ Corner

A new year, a new start – Loreena Thiessen

– Terry M. Smith

Departments 2

Editorials

3

Pontius’ Puddle

4

Letters and Notices

page

27

26 With Our Missionaries 28 With Our Churches 33 Shoulder Tapping

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 3

The Messenger

Letters and Notices

Volume 54 No. 01 January 2016

Correction:

Rose Cornelsen wrote the Dec. article on the interview with Pastor Brian McGuffin (RFC), not Rhonda Friesen, EDITOR TERRY M. SMITH

ASSISTANT EDITOR ANDREW WALKER

Submissions to The Messenger should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca.

The Messenger is the monthly publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. It is available to the general public.

Its purpose is to inform concerning events and activities in the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious living, inspire to earnestly contend for the faith.

Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcomed.

Unpublished material is not returned except by request.

Views and opinions of writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference or the editors. Advertising and inserts should not be considered to carry editorial endorsement.

The Messenger is published by the EMC Board of Church Ministries, 440 Main St, Steinbach, Man., and is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press.

Subscription rates 1 year $24 ($30 U.S., $45 foreign) 2 years $44 ($55 U.S., $85 foreign) 3 years $65 ($82 U.S., $125 foreign) Manitoba residents add 8% PST. Digital only subscriptions: $15 per year.

Single copy price: $2

The Messenger online and digital The Messenger is available online. It is also available in digital form to be sent to your e-mail address; the cost, for members and adherents of EMC churches, is covered by the EMC. For those not attending an EMC church, a digital subscription is $15/year.

who sent in the article and photo. We regret confusing these members of the RFC team.

– Editor Contact Andrew Walker, circulation manager, at awalker@emconf. ca. Please let him know if you wish to continue, or discontinue, the print copy. Thank you.

– Terry M. Smith Executive Secretary

Radical Reformation: History, Thought and Practice

Otterburne, Man. May 16-20, 2016 Instructor: Layton Friesen, ThD (cand.)

Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. Subscriptions are purchased by the Conference for members and adherents.

Graduate and undergraduate credit or audit.

Those seeking EMC credentials are to take it for credit. PTS offers a room and bursary for those staying on campus.

Change of address and subscriptions Undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be addressed to: 440 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Phone: 204-326-6401 Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: messenger@emconf.ca www.emconference.ca/messenger

Contact Admissions at 1-204-433-7488 or 1-800-668-7768 (providenceseminary.ca)

Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba.

ISSN: 0701-3299 Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40017362

Advertising The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards, and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads and inquiries should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca.

THE MESSENGER schedule: No. 03–March 2016 issue (copy due February 08)

4 The Messenger • January 2016

Guidelines for letters

Letters published are generally to comment on issues raised in The Messenger. The magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, legality, and taste. It can refuse publication.

Letters by regular mail and by fax must contain a handwritten signature with at least the writer’s first and last names and an address.

For letters by e-mail, the writer’s name and e-mail address are deemed to be an electronic signature. The writer’s regular postal address is to be included in e-mail correspondence.

The writer’s name and general address are to be published. In sensitive matters, names may be withheld. Letters to the editor are to be 250 words or less.

Column • An Education App

Sabbaticals and the Golden Rule “I work hard and I don’t get a sabbatical, so why should my minister? Pretty cushy, eh? A paid break. Who gets that? And stress. You want to talk to me about stress? My job has lots of stress. So why do ministers think they need to be treated special?”

“D

ISTOCK

o to others as you would want them to do to you” (Luke 6:31, Matt. 7:12). Ever hear of the Golden Rule? Perhaps it’s a good one to remember.

If your employer thought your work so valuable and stressful that they would allow you a break with pay to refocus and come back refreshed, would you be open to it? If so, would you support it for someone else?

Burnt-out ministers, teachers, and farmers do not serve us well. Some people go through teacher training and last only a short time in the classroom. Some ministers drop out too soon.

What if they could be helped to serve longer and better? Longevity in ministry is good for leaders and local churches.

Many EMCers feel high stress in their work.

There might, though, be some uncommon wrinkles in serving as a pastor that are worth considering.

If I may ask, who hired you and how many bosses do you have? When you were hired for your job, were you expected to kneel down before all of your bosses, make public pledges, and have people pray for you? Did your spouse also have to kneel down while you were publicly accepting your job offer? Does your children’s behaviour get critiqued while onlookers decide if it is suitable for you to remain in your position?

When you speak weekly, if you do, do you look into the faces of dozens, if not hundreds, of people who determine whether you keep your job? And are you to speak fearlessly, yet sensitively, on topics often considered uncomfortable and inappropriate within wider Canadian society?

Pastoral ministry is not a career. Despite the rising standard of education for EMC ministers, it is not a profession. It remains a divine calling—a case of how a person had plans and Christ directed them into something else with great expectations, sometimes lower pay, and high stress. Ministry is a calling, a privilege, but never easy. A policy on a pastor’s sabbatical can, therefore, assist a local church.

Within the EMC national office, executive staff members are eligible for up to six months after six years if they commit to returning for two years. After 11 years, I was granted a four-month sabbatical. I sought to use it well— to serve EMC churches by preaching and by studying at seminary.

As a national staff person, I care deeply about the health of all of our EMC churches and the leadership couples who serve them.

There is value to leaders and churches when pastors are helped by sabbaticals, retreat centres, personal counselling, and more.

I suggest, actually, that more help be offered to the too-often forgotten spouse of a minister. How does a minister’s sabbatical help their spouse? Now there’s a question to consider.

Terry M. Smith Executive Secretary

There is value to leaders and churches when pastors are helped by sabbaticals, retreat centres, personal counselling, and more.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 5

A Series on the Apostles' Creed Through 2016

The Twelve Greatest Words Ever Put on Paper!

ISTOCK

by Russell Doerksen

6 The Messenger • January 2016

A

t its core, the Apostles’ Creed is the basic description of what it means to be a Christian. By digging into it, we can gain new insights into our personal beliefs as members of the EMC. We can learn more about our history as both Christians and as human beings, and we can learn more about other believers throughout all of Christianity.

We begin this journey through the Apostles’ Creed by looking into the meaning and implications of the most powerful, encouraging, and awe-inspiring twelve words that have ever been put to paper: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.”

'I Believe'

Belief is understanding how things work together to some beautiful end.

It is only fitting to begin looking into the common statement of Christianity by focusing on the phrase, “I believe.”

“I believe” in two words lays down two important truths. The first is that Christianity has to be a personal response. While this may seem perfectly obvious to us today, throughout much of the world and much of history personal belief was expected to be the same as group belief. While it is not likely that the “I” here is a criticism of that method of believing and conversion, it does mean that Christianity is not wholly compatible with it either. To put it simply, at some point in their life, every individual Christian must come to the beliefs laid out in the Creed.

More interesting though, is the word “believe.” Beliefs often have a bad reputation today, as something that only foolish people have. That is too bad as belief is something fundamental to the human experience. Belief is understanding how things work together to some beautiful end.

Whether your belief is

in an all powerful God, or is purely rationalistic, belief is essential for understanding why things are the way they are.

As such, it is important that the word chosen for the Creed is “believe.” That one word changes the meaning of the Creed significantly.

The Creed is, without a doubt, something that is thought and it is also to many of us something known. But at its heart the Creed is a big statement. The Creed is an explanation of the whole point of life, death, and all of creation: to know God and to have a relationship with him.

Knowing this, let’s go to the next line and the core of the Apostles’ Creed.

‘In God the Father Almighty’

In this statement there are two equally important parts: the designation “God the Father” and the word “Almighty.”

As members of the EMC and as Christians, we believe that there is only one God. With the term “God the Father,” the Creed is presenting us with the first aspect of the oneness of God. The first part of the Trinity.

This is a sculpture of the Apostles at Notre Dame Cathedral.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 7

God is Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit—perfectly communal, perfectly powerful and perfectly loving.

God is referred to as the Father often throughout Scripture (1 Cor. 8:6, Mal. 2:10, Isa. 63:16), which means it is an important way that God has revealed himself. God is referred to as the Father of creation, of Christ, and of humanity. To the Biblical writers, the term Father means, among many other things, that he is authoritative (Rev. 1:8), strong (Psalm 68:5), merciful and comforting (2 Cor. 1:3-4), demanding of respect (Rom. 15:6), wise (Mark 13:32), and creative (John 1:3).

It is interesting to note that in calling God “Father,” Scripture does not seem to be saying that God is male. If it were, then it would make little sense that God calls humanity, both male and female, as made “in his image” (Gen. 1:26).

This is not to say that Jesus, God made human, was not male, but instead that when talking about “God the Father” Scripture does not seem to be talking in terms of gender.

This is fine, though, as God is fundamentally beyond our understanding. Yet he has chosen to reveal himself in the way that he has. God is not simply male and not simply female. God is fundamentally more than either of these things.

God is God and yet God is a person.

God is Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit— perfectly communal, perfectly powerful and perfectly loving. God is all present, all powerful, and all knowing. Before anything else was, God

8 The Messenger • January 2016

was; all there ever was and will ever be is dependent upon him.

To put all of this together, God is Almighty. To say that God is anything less than Almighty is to make God into less than he is, and woe to anyone who chooses to do something as foolish as that.

‘Creator of Heaven and Earth’

That God is Almighty is important to Christian faith because if he was anything less, he would not be God. He would not be worthy of anything, let alone our worship.

However, we know that God is worthy. We know that God is God. We know that God is Almighty because this is shown by his being the Creator.

Genesis 1 says that our God is so powerful he does not even need to expend effort in creation.

He says, “Let there be light,” and there is light (1:3). “Let there be fish in the sea and birds in the air” (1:20) and there are. Creation simply is because it is the will of God. Most importantly, God himself says that his creation is “good” (1:31). We often downplay the importance of this simple phrase. We do this when we say, in some form, that everything (people, planet, universe) “needs to be done away with because it is fallen.” We do this when

Beneath the effects of sin on us and our world, God is able to see what he intends to yet call forth. we think of things in terms of being discardable.

Such a view goes against something basic we are to believe about God: he is the One who creates, who can call into being what is not yet. God is the Creator.

While creation is shot through with sin (Gen. 3), to be sure, and things are less than they were created to be (Rom. 3:23, 8:19-22), that does not mean that this planet has stopped being, ultimately, the good creation of God. Beneath the effects of sin on us and our world, God is able to see what he intends to yet call forth. To fully believe that God is Almighty is to believe that he is incapable of making something that, even when wrought with sin, could be considered fully bad.

To say that God is Almighty, and to say that creation was called “good” by that Almighty, is to say that creation in all its glory can never be thought of as beyond all hope. To say God is our Father, our Almighty Creator, is to say that creation (people, planet, universe) will, in the end, fulfill the purpose for which it is made. Some of humankind may choose to fight against the will of the Almighty, to their loss, but ultimately his good will shall come to pass.

A Rich Future

If we say that “I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth,” we are saying together this and nothing less: We believe in a God, wonderful beyond full human comprehension, who has revealed himself to us out of his love for us. We believe that out of his love he created all that was, is and will ever be. We believe that as the Almighty, his good purposes will ultimately be fulfilled.

In response to this, we are also saying that we need to trust and serve him. As a part of his creation, we need to treat all that God has made in the way that it deserves as something that God himself said was “good.”

This gives me a rich future, joy, and hope.

Thanks be to God! Russell Doerksen (Fort Garry) is the chairperson of the Board of Church Ministries. He is a double graduate of Providence University College and Theological Seminary (BA, MDiv) and works there in student finance and as editor of Didaskalia, PTS’s journal. He and his wife Shannon live in Otterburne, Man.

Paraguay Prayer Team 2016 March 8-22, 2016 Advancing Ministry Through Prayer Apply By: February 5, 2016 Cost: $2100 (approx.)

Ministry Project: $100 of your trip fee goes towards a ministry project that will help further the efforts of the missionaries’ work.

DEBORAH GIESBRECHT

Accommodations: Billeting in missionary homes.

Request application: Call the EMC office at 204-326-6401 Diana (dpeters@emconf.ca) Gerald (greimer@emconf.ca) www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 9

A Case for Christ-centred Nonviolence

ISTOCK

by Dr. Preston Sprinkle, SBC Leadership Conference 2016 speaker

T

he topic of violence and nonviolence in an age of terrorism is incredibly complex. Pulling together and synthesizing the diverse scriptural witness concerning violence, and then applying it to our modern age, is not an easy feat.

Now, having spent several years reflecting on the strongest arguments on all sides of this multifaceted debate, I have cautiously concluded that absolute nonviolence is the most faithful expression of a Christocentric world view. But I hold onto this conclusion with an open hand, always eager to be corrected where I am wrong.

Before I argue for my position, I want to first acknowledge that there are dozens of different brands of “pacifism,” most of which I disagree with. In fact, I don’t like the term “pacifism” and I rarely use it to describe my position, largely because the term is so often misunderstood.

When most people hear the term “pacifism,” they think of “passiveness;” they imagine people

standing around with their fingers interlocked behind their backs as they selfrighteously watch evil run rampant. This may depict a brand of pacifism, but it is not the brand that I endorse.

I also find non-Christocentric versions of pacifism, or nonviolence, to be ethically and theologically anemic. If Jesus does not walk out of a grave and sit at the right hand of the Father, then we have no business loving our enemies. Unless Christ defeats evil by submitting to violence—by dying rather then killing—and rises from the dead to tell the tale, I will most certainly destroy my enemy before he destroys me. Without the death and resurrection of Jesus, all forms of nonviolence, I believe, are not compelling.

To be clear, I believe in Christian—or more explicitly, Christocentric—nonviolence. Christocentric nonviolence says that we should fight against evil, we should wage war against injustice, and we should defend the orphan, the widow, the marginalized, and oppressed. And we should do so aggressively. But we should do so nonviolently.

In other words, Christocentric nonviolence does not dispute whether Christians should fight against evil. It only disputes the means by which we do fight.

Now, rather than asking the questions: Are some wars just or should a nation wage war as a last resort? I want to ask and answer the question: should Christ-followers use violence as a means of confronting evil or defending the innocent? My answer—as expected—is no. Or more

Should Christ-followers use violence as a means of confronting evil or defending the innocent?

10 The Messenger • January 2016

specifically: there is little to no biblical evidence that Christians should use violence to confront evil. To articulate my view, I want to give four brief theses and then address four common challenges to my position.

1. Jesus never acted violently to fight injustice or defend the innocent.

Jesus endured unjust accusations and physical attacks, and yet he never responded in kind. He was spit upon, punched, slapped (Matt. 26:67), and had his head pounded with a stick (Matt.

27:30), yet he never used violence to defend himself or attack his perpetrator. Jesus, therefore, models his own command to not “resist evil…but turn the other cheek.” When the Pharisees were about to use violence on the woman caught in adultery, instead of violently protecting her, Jesus jumps in front of the firing squad.

He ends up being tortured and crucified unjustly for treason, yet he offers only forgiveness and love toward his enemy, again practicing what he preached. Jesus' life is peppered with violent attacks, yet He never responds with violence. He embraces suffering, not because he is weak, but because suffering contains more power in defeating evil than using violence, and suffering is the pathway to resurrection glory (Rom. 8). In doing so, Jesus shattered all Jewish expectations of how a Messiah should act. It’s not that Jesus just happened to act nonviolently.

Rather, he directly and intentionally demilitarized the meaning of messiah and kingdom.

2. Jesus taught his followers to follow the same rhythm of nonviolence and enemy-love.

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also” (Luke 6:2729). Whenever violence is mentioned, it’s always shunned.

There’s no evidence that only some of our enemies are to be loved, or that we should love our nonviolent enemies, but kill the ones who are trying to harm us or our nation. Jesus’ counter cultural commands are unqualified and absolute.

And whenever the apostles try to confront evil

with violence, they are rebuked (Luke 9, 22).

Now, some will say that Jesus’ nonviolent journey to the cross was necessary for Jesus to atone for our sins. He had to suffer; he had to die. His nonviolence was theological necessary not practically mandatory for all.

But the Bible says that it was both.

3. Jesus’ nonviolent journey to the cross was both theological and ethical.

Yes, Jesus had to die, so he chose not to resist his death. But New Testament writers view his nonviolent journey to the cross as a pattern for believers to follow. First Pet. 2, Rom. 12, Phil. 2, and other passages draw upon Jesus’ nonviolent journey to the cross as a model for believers to follow.

When NT writers themselves ask the question WWJD, their most consistent and pervasive response is: don’t fight evil with evil, endure suffering, don’t retaliate, love your enemies— because that’s what Jesus did. Jesus fought against evil through suffering.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 11

The book of Revelation expounds this theology of suffering through its use of the key word and theme nikao (“conquer”). The word nikao conjures up warfare imagery from its typical usage in the Greco-Roman period. John also uses the verb nikao to describe how Jesus has “conquered” the beast and his empire. But unlike the Roman rulers, Jesus conquers not with swords and spears but with a cross. The Lamb conquers by being conquered, by suffering and dying (Rev. 5). And the followers of the Lamb conquer evil by the same means: “they have conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for/because they loved not their lives even unto death” (Rev. 12:11).

In Jesus’ upside down kingdom, there is more divine power infused in the suffering and death of Christians than in 10,000 pounds of C-4 plastic explosive. (One of the problems with fighting evil with violence and killing is not that it’s too powerful, but that it’s too weak. America could nuke ISIS and Al Qaeda to hell and Satan would walk away untouched. You can’t fight a non-flesh and blood enemy with flesh and blood weapons. It’s like squirting a raging fire with a squirt gun. But I digress.)

4. Even though injustice and evil were rampant in the first century, there’s no verse in the NT that commands or allows believers to use violence to confront evil or defend the innocent.

The New Testament was written in the face of violence and persecution. There were innocent people suffering. Evil was widespread. Most of their Jewish brothers and sisters had no problem using violence against evil. All the ingredients are there for Christians to use violence to confront evil or defend the innocent. But they don’t.

There’s nothing in the NT that suggests that violence is an option—even a last option—for believers to use to fight against evil. And given the previous three theses, there are many reasons to believe that the opposite is true, that nonviolence is actually a more powerful means of defeating evil.

In a first-century world swimming in violence, in a land where “messiah” meant militancy, Jesus never acted violently. Whenever violence is addressed, Jesus condemns it. Whenever his followers try to act violently, they were confronted. Whenever Jesus encountered people who deserved a violent punishment, Jesus loved them. And in doing so, he left his followers with a non-violent example to follow.

When people around the globe think that North American Christians are pro-war, enamoured with violence, and fascinated with military might, something is terribly wrong. No one in the first century would have made the same conclusion regarding Jesus and his followers.

Preston Sprinkle (PhD, NT, Aberdeen) will be SBC’s Leadership Conference 2016 speaker, March 18-19, on Living Non-violently in a Violent World. He serves as the vice president for Eternity Bible College’s Boise extension and has authored Erasing Hell (with Francis Chan, 2011), Fight: A Christian Case for Nonviolence (2013), Paul and Judaism Revisited (2013), Charis: God’s Scandalous Grace for Us (2014), and People to Be Loved: Why Homosexuality is Not Just an Issue (2015). Preston has been married to Christine for almost 15 years, and together they have four children.

12 The Messenger • January 2016

So What is Happening in Christian Higher Education?

ISTOCK

by Dr. Rob Reimer, President, Steinbach Bible College

W

ith the closure of Bethany College, many are asking what is happening with Christian Higher Education in Canada (CHE). I will attempt to address this question by identifying a few trends affecting CHE. This is a follow-up article on the impact of Bethany College’s closing and some of the trends and challenges of CHE (see Dec. 2015 issue for part one).

As president of Steinbach Bible College (SBC), I am keenly aware that times are challenging for faith-based CHE institutes. Many schools are struggling to attract students, while others are holding their own. Only a few CHE institutes across the country are experiencing an increase in student enrolment. SBC would currently fit between the middle category of holding our own and experiencing an increase in student enrolment.

This year, enrolment at SBC is at one of our highest levels in the past 50 years, and this is the third year in a row we have seen an increase.

However, it was only four years ago that we experienced a season of low enrolment. This is the typical ebb and flow of the life of SBC— some years we trend up and other years we trend down. We are encouraged by this current increase in student enrolment.

This year, enrolment at SBC is at one of our highest levels in the past 50 years, and this is the third year in a row we have seen an increase.

Trends in CHE Enrolment

What are some of the reasons for CHE enrolment struggles?

This is a difficult question to answer. However, in talking with other CHE presidents, and in using the limited data available, I see a trend emerging.

A Declining Student Population

Higher Education expert Ken Steele in his blog Peak Campus: 6 Converging Trends, states: “Statistics Canada forecasts a decline of more than 400,000 youth between 2013 and 2028.” This past September, Statistics Canada reported that for the first time ever, Canada has more seniors (65 years and older) than it has youth (14 years

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 13

old and younger). The reality is that there are fewer young people in our country who are graduating from grade 12. This means CHE institutes will have fewer potential students graduating from high school to recruit.

Loss of Parental Support

I remember how, in my high school days, I received a lot of encouragement from my parents to attend Bible College. In fact, it was almost a given that I would.

However, that parental support for current high school students has decreased significantly. In talking with other CHE presidents, the consensus is that many parents are no longer encouraging their children to attend Bible College. In fact, we are hearing that some Christian parents are actually discouraging their children from attending a faith-based college; encouraging them instead to attend a public university and college.

Perceived Lack of Value Versus Cost

I believe a reason parents hesitate to encourage their children to attend faith-based colleges is because they perceive it is a waste of time and, more importantly, a waste of money. The thinking is: “Why should my child spend so much money when it won’t lead to a higher paying job?” The value of growing in one’s faith is seemingly taking a back seat to the pursuit of an education that will directly lead to a good paying job.

I believe a reason parents hesitate to encourage their children to attend faith-based colleges is because they perceive it is a waste of time and, more importantly, a waste of money.

14 The Messenger • January 2016

Grave Danger

However, there is grave danger in this kind of thought. Dr. Steve Henderson in his article Price vs Cost states: “More than 52 percent of incoming freshmen who identify themselves as born-again upon entering a public university will either no longer identify themselves as born-again four years later or, even if they do still claim that identification, will not have attended any religious service in over a year.

This means over half of our kids are reporting a rejection of their religious values if they attend a public university.”

The trap parents fall into is thinking that their children will remain strong in their faith.

After all, they grew up in the church, went to Sunday School all their life, and have not been in any trouble. However, over 50 percent of these kids end up losing their faith. Henderson goes on to state: “Unfortunately, I know about cost.

Some pain still lingers from seeing one of my own children self-destruct. I remember how proud I was to see my dynamic, scholarship winning, powerfully Christian daughter move in as a freshman at a well-respected public institution.

I also recall the shock and grief that came not

Each year our students testify that a degree at SBC is well worth their time and money. Our alumni repeatedly share how their SBC experience significantly shaped their life and prepared them for the future.

The vast majority of our graduates find a church family where they actively volunteer, serve and minister to those within and beyond the church walls.

The value has eternal implications.

What impact does Christian Higher Education have on you, your family, and on your church?

WHO ANYONE AGES 18-25

SINGLE OR MARRIED NO CHILDREN PLEAS

WHAT A RETREAT PLANNE

SOME SOUTH EASTE MANITOBA EMC CHU

long after when I learned that drugs and alcohol had become so much a part of her lifestyle that they were putting her in grave danger.”

The value of spending a year or more at SBC Direct registration questions is huge! Every three years we survey our students Dr. Rob Reimer is the president contact Gord Pe on a wide variety of items. In our last survey, of Steinbach Bible College. conducted in 2013, our students reported a 92 percent overall rating for growth in faith and discipleship at the college. Likewise, they indicated a 92 percent rating for “students are equipped for Church ministry.” A survey conducted by NoelLevitz consistently recognizes that the student satisfaction of SBC students is much higher than that of students at secular colleges and universities.

When: March 11-13, 2016 I would strongly urge all parents to consider (or, in some cases, reconsider) Where: Camp Cedarwood, Lac Du Bonnet. encouraging their children to attend a faith-based college. Naturally, I would Cost: $110/Person. Registration is Limited. love for them to attend SBC. Attending SBC will not “guarantee” that your child Ages: 18-25ish. No Children, Please. remains spiritually strong. However, it significantly increases the likelihood that Speaker: Darryl Klassen they will plug into the local church and serve joyfully.

Contact: We are an accredited college with Nathan Plett: (204) 355-4511 qualified faculty who emphasize mennathan@prairierose.ca toring students. We also have excellent Gord Penner: (204) 326-6451 facilities that are the envy of many colgpenner@sbcollege.ca leges. And we foster an atmosphere that Jason Heide: (204) 326-6572 is conducive for spiritual growth and jheide@semconline.com lasting friendships.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 15

An EMCer in Europe Speaks About the Refugee Crisis

Living With Refugees

by Menno Plett

First Instinct

When we feel threatened, our first instinct is towards self-preservation. For most of us, it is a new challenge to realize that thousands of people are making their way to Europe, in search of peace, security, and the hope of a better future for their families. They want what we have. They want to flee the destruction, danger and chaos they have known in Syria.

They are also coming from places such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, and various other African countries, often sent by their families, to secure a place in Europe, in order to work and to send funds home. They risk their lives on the open water and during their overland trek, in order to reach a safe place.

16 The Messenger • January 2016

ISTOCK

W

hy should Europe and, in particular, Christians in Europe welcome refugees to its shores, especially during these days when thousands are arriving here daily?

My first response was that I am not the right person to write on this subject. I am a Canadian and a guest here. It would be more appropriate for a European to respond to this question, given that this is a challenge being faced in Europe.

However, after further reflection, I agreed to undertake this task. Especially if we focus the question to say, “What should be the response by the Anabaptist community in Europe, to the thousands who are coming here for refuge and in the hope of a better life?” In writing to our Anabaptist family, I’m communicating to my brothers and sisters, my family, and no longer as a guest.

Our fear is how will this affect us.

Our reluctance to respond may be linked to our fears. How will this influx strain our social services which we hold dear?

We already have high levels of unemployment, and with a mass influx of people, this can only get worse.

What about our security? What kind of people are we letting in? Are there those who will pose a security threat to us and to our families? Might our fears be linked to the unknown?

Do we fear an increase in the number of people from other ethnicities? Religions? Cultures?

Our fear is how will this affect us. Our reluctance to respond may be linked to our fears.

A View of Canada

I come from Canada, and as you know my country is essentially made up of immigrants, many of whom came to Canada as refugees, looking for a safe home and a better life. People looking for the kinds of things the current refugees to Europe are so desperately yearning for.

The Bible on Refugees

My own people, referred to in Canada as Russian Mennonites, had established a peaceful and prosperous way of life on the steppes of Ukraine. When that unraveled starting with WWI and the Russian Revolution, we fled to Canada our new home.

Although we faced many challenges in our new home, we were welcome there.

How could we now close our borders to others, who are seeking what we found?

How could I in good conscience urge European Mennonites to be cautious about welcoming strangers into your midst?

What does the Bible have to say on the topic? We will not do an exhaustive study on the topic here, but we know that our spiritual ancestors were themselves economic refugees. Abram, Isaac, and Jacob moved from the Promised Land on several occasions in search of food.

The story of Ruth is the story of an immigrant who continually crossed national borders in search of food.

So, immigration because of economics, war, and seeking for asylum is not far from every Christian’s own

heritage.

Ancient Israel was commanded to love immigrants because God loved immigrants. “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigners residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt” (Deut. 10:18-19).

We are called on to be hospitable, which in New Testament teaching literally means to “love the stranger” or the alien (Rom. 12:13, Heb. 13:2, 1 Pet. 4:9). Jesus commanded his followers to welcome people who had no social standing, such as the poor, the sick and the outsider (Luke 14:12-14).

Jesus commanded his followers to welcome people who had no social standing, such as the poor, the sick and the outsider

Numerous Initiatives

My understanding is that the work of welcoming and assisting refugees and immigrants to Europe, has in the past been largely the work of governments here in Europe. The size of the task, and the urgency with which assistance needs to be provided, is providing the church with a unique opportunity of living out our faith witness.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 17

I have learned of numerous initiatives by individuals and church communities to act as sponsors for refugee families, assisting with housing, helping them register for school and health coverage, assisting in appointments with government offices, language learning and the list goes on. That is the kind of work that can and is being done here in Europe, for those who arrive here.

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is equally concerned with responding to the needs of people closer to the areas of conflict. MCC would like to stem the flow of people northwards, by providing assistance to displaced people in Syria, and to Syrian and Iraqis refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. The hope is that people will someday be able to return home, so the closer they are to “home,” the better.

European Mennonites

European Mennonites are working jointly with MCC to organize a shipment of relief supplies.

Three containers of supplies are being filled and shipped to Syria. Included in the shipment are blankets, hand-made quilts, buckets filled with relief supplies, health kits, school kits and knitted items such as socks and caps.

The Caisse de Secours (France), Mennonitisches Hilfswerk (Germany), Swiss Mennonite Mission/Nott Hilfe Gruppe (Switzerland) and

18 The Messenger • January 2016

Wereld Werk (The Netherlands) all working hand in hand with each other and with MCC is a beautiful example of working together to respond to the needs of our fellow human beings in the Middle East. Local partners on the ground are responsible for the distribution of the goods being sent.

Let’s Commit Ourselves

Let’s commit ourselves to welcome the stranger.

In the stark and terrifying parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus concludes with, “I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was ill and in prison and you did not look after me” (Matt.

25:41-43).

We cannot say to those in need, “You are not our problem.”

Lydia and Menno Plett (Prairie Rose) serve as MCC’s West Europe representatives, relating to Mennonite conferences, government, and NGOs. This article was originally written for a Swiss Mennonite periodical.

National

Council approves budget and magazine analysis Delegates provided with highlights to report to churches

Welcome and Devotional

Moderator Abe Bergen welcomed delegates. Andy Woolworth, pastor of Heartland Community Church, focused on John 18:1, where Jesus travelled into the Kidron Valley, a garbage dump with a stream that carried the blood of sacrificial animals that Jesus would soon replace. As we follow Jesus, he will lead us beyond our comfort zone, into difficulties, and ultimately a place of rest, Woolworth said.

General Board

It is looking at how to reimagine our conventions, with a committee making recommendations. To carry out its mandate, the board will now meet four times a year and the executive as needed. It ponders how to relate to other conferences about same-sex relationships. The BLO’s Social Concerns Committee is working on a paper on sexuality; the conference ministerial will guide this.

ANDREW WALKER

LANDMARK, Man.—Conference council delegates on Nov. 27, 2015, approved a budget with a 2.8 percent decrease, opted to maintain home delivery for The Messenger along with further analysis, considered “member care” for mission workers, and received a summary of EMC’s results in the Global Anabaptist Profile project.

The General Board asked whether it should change the frequency and time of conference council. Responses varied; no decisions were made.

One delegate expressed concern that, rather than have a hard statement on same-sex matters, we would invite all people to our churches, be Christ-like in our struggle with issues. (He clarified later that he was not asking for the reopening of the definition of marriage, but that sensitivity to people be shown without reopening the definition.) The moderator responded by saying there is a need for sensitivity in language, that the issue is not going away, and the admonition was warranted.

Mennonite Foundation of Canada

Harold Penner said MFC is doing a “brand audit,” partly by a survey of how it is seen by churches. Thirteen EMC churches have loans of $6,997,850; six EMC churches have a total of $434,000 on deposit; and EMC clients have distributed $215,000 to 19 churches.

Board of Church Ministries

Moderator Abe Bergen

Chairman Russell Doerksen referred to editor Dave K. Schellenberg’s view in 1963 that The Messenger is to inform, instruct, and inspire.

This is to be kept in mind as we move ahead after the loss of the government grant, he said.

Terry Smith, editor, outlined the history of The Messenger and government. In 2015 the

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 19

National government decided that the magazine no longer qualified for the grant because it could not track most people’s consent and payment of funds; the delegates’ decision was no longer acceptable.

Three plans were proposed: to maintain home delivery (preferred by the BCM); to save up to $4,600 by changing paper stocks and ink; or to shift to bulk mailing to churches, which might increase readers and connections, but save little.

Delegate discussion ranged from whether the board had thought “outside the box” and considered a digital move to analyze how well-read is the magazine. It was explained that the board had thought “outside the box” and that digital copies have been available for years, though most readers prefer print. Council decided to continue home delivery for now, that analysis to be done of how churches use the magazine, and proposals be presented at July’s conference council.

Steinbach Bible College

President Rob Reimer said that, with the closing of Bethany College, Mennonite Brethren churches in Manitoba are deciding whether SBC will be their college. The Ben D. Reimer School of Leadership is being developed; the EMC is asked to contribute to an endowment fund to reduce the debts of fourth-year pastoral students.

Board of Missions

Vice chair Alvira Friesen said “member care” of missionaries is being strengthened to equip and empower workers for sustained ministry. A survey found that workers need to have a safe place, apart from the administrative team, to be heard.

Ken Zacharias, foreign secretary, said Ascend internship workers serve in Mexico and Bolivia.

A half-century after EMC workers began serving in Nicaragua, people have positive memories of early workers. Recently leaders there discussed issues: women in church, social ministry, church discipline, homosexuality, marriage, and divorce.

They are careful students of the Word, mostly self-taught; there is a desire to assist them with education.

Let’s be encouraged about what our missionaries are doing, Ken said. Tim Dyck, general secretary, reminded delegates that $500 is available to pastors or church leaders to make a field visit.

Churches were asked what they are doing for “member care” for missionaries. Responses: further work is needed to assist with the move home, field visits have been made, retired missionaries have received a car and financial help was offered, and Kerith Pines retreat centre is useful.

Mennonite World Conference

Ken Zacharias

20 The Messenger • January 2016

Ron Penner, EMC representative, said that Jesus’ promise to build his Church is being fulfilled. The Church is suffering—how do we make government and Church aware of this?

National disability is common and, in practice, should not be optional, Tim Dyck said. Extended health benefits are available, but optional. The numbers subscribing to the plans have dropped to where they are no longer cost effective and alternatives are to be investigated, said Allister.

Board of Leadership and Outreach

Abe Bergen, Allister Penner, Tim Dyck

He encouraged giving, praying, and support for those who assist the global church. After 12 years Ron is stepping down as EMC representative. The moderator announced that Layton Friesen will serve as our EMC representative.

Mennonite Central Committee

Don Peters, executive secretary for MCC Canada, said that $34 million has been spent on the refugee crisis and there is “no end in sight.”

Assistance is needed for people where they are; MCC staff members are also working hard to assist resettlements. Beyond the Syrian crisis, he reminded delegates that MCC is involved in 45 other countries.

Board of Trustees

Charles Koop, church planting director, spoke of the new church plant in Two Hills, Alta., and of the need for someone to give it leadership. Redcliff has some exciting weekends and evenings, but planting is challenging. The Dauphin church plant is being affected by most people being seasonal workers. How the EMC might relate to C2C, the Mennonite Brethren network with urban planting experience, is being explored.

Ward Parkinson, conference pastor, listed recently settled pastoral couples, many new to the EMC. He highlighted SBC’s Leadership Conference on March 18-19 with Dr. Preston Sprinkle. The Statement of Faith review team is distilling responses and identifying where more study is needed. He encouraged prayer for churches going through struggles.

Global Anabaptist Profile

Moderator Abe Bergen, an EMC representative on the Global Anabaptist Project planning committee, said the MWC project is to provide information to guide the church in its mission and priorities. The results are not an official theological position, but could lead to study. The survey topics reflect MWC’s seven Shared Convictions, the EMC was one of four conferences in North America surveyed, and the results are available to churches. (The moderator and general secretary will present some of the results within The Messenger.)

– Terry M. Smith

Allister Penner, chair, said it is projected that $586,000 is needed by year’s end. Significant giving is needed in December, churches were contacted in many ways (bulletin inserts, BOT members), and it’s hoped the need will be met.

Historically, giving has been flat for the past few years at about $2 million; the slight increase is for salaries.

Delegates discussed whether their churches favoured the budget and what their church could give. One delegate Highlights or Take Aways said that a budget is a statement of what we think of as Delegates were encouraged to report to their churches in these areas: important. The budget of •Decision regarding The Messenger $2,061,000 was passed (down •Availability of GAP report $59,000 from 2015).

•Understanding church’s role in member care for missionaries The BOT offers bene•Refugee sponsorship opportunities fit plans for EMC employees •Challenge to meet budget in 2015 and some church employees.

•Statement of Faith review: a Ministerial study day in winter 2016 A plan for long-term life and •Two Hills – new church start

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 21

National

Ministerial ponders gospel of reconciliation

by Terry M. Smith

T

he gospel is a message of reconciliation to be reflected in our local church life and wider Church unity, yet we sometimes burden ourselves with unbiblical views of what forgiveness means—so said Dr. David Guretzki at the EMC ministerial retreat held on Nov. 28-30, 2015, at Wilderness Edge Retreat and Conference Centre in Pinawa, Man.

A Time of Relaxation

TERRY M. SMITH

The retreat started with a welcome and an outline of events. Beyond the worship sessions, there were periods planned for relaxation, friendly competition (table tennis, crokinole, Scrabble), a talent show, and to watch the Grey Cup. Vern Knutson, who with his wife Lana was on the planning committee, hoped the retreaters would fix their eyes on the one who redeemed us. Ward Parkinson, also with his wife Janine on the planning committee, read from Brendan Manning on Dr. David Guretzki: that Jesus died for our sins is a halfway gospel. how “blessed are the poor.” Parkinson encouraged retreaters to consider their spiritual repentance. Forgiveness has today become an poverty so the Lord could fill them. umbrella term, yet biblically has a narrower focus.

Forgiveness and reconciliation are more than Presentations feel good, therapeutic ideas; they are about the To say Jesus died for our sins is only a halfway offended and the offender—about us, not me. gospel, said David Guretzki, professor of theology, Reconciliation and forgiveness are terms that church, and public life at Briercrest Seminary. The come from the ancient business world, which goal is reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:14). God’s primary Guretzki linked to the concept of Jubilee that business is reconciligave people a fresh ation and we are to start. Forgiveness is be involved, with our a means to the end motive being that of reconciliation, a Christ’s love for us relational spiritual compels us. He cautioned against judging people transaction symbolized by the cross having horiby standards outside of Christ. zontal and vertical aspects, he said.

Guretzki also cautioned against cheapening Forgiveness is an intentional act of the will reconciliation by confusing it with other conto remove obstacles between people, a refusal cepts. Forgiveness and reconciliation are related, to let barriers inhibit reconciliation. Our forbut not the same. The Bible never says to forgive giveness reflects God’s forgiveness of us (Matt. your enemies, but to love them and pray for their 18:24-35), and part of the reason we don’ t

Forgiveness has today become an umbrella term, yet biblically has a narrower focus.

22 The Messenger • January 2016

National forgive is that we don’t realize how much we’ve been forgiven, he said.

The professor cautioned against unilateral forgiveness. Forgiveness in Scripture is dependent upon the conditions of confession and repentance.

When asked about Jesus’ prayer of forgiveness on the cross, Guretzki said that Jesus did not speak a word of forgiveness directly to the soldiers and crowd, but prayed to the Father on their behalf.

A hidden one-way forgiveness is worthless for reconciliation, he said.

Ministerial members listened, enjoying their time together.

The reconciliation sought in Matt. 18 is a meeting of the minds. In the Lord’s Prayer, If wrong has been established and the where we are to be forgiven as we forgive (Matt. accused refuses to listen, the church is to be 6:12), Guretzki says it applies when a person told—not the entire congregation on Sunday confesses, repents, and wants a relationship. If morning, but proper leaders of the church. The the other person then says, “Never!” Jesus only accused is to be treated as a sinner or a tax colhas a word of warning. lector. This does not mean they are to be kicked In Matt. 18:15-17 the instruction is for disout and never dealt with again; there is continciples, peer-level relationships. The principles ued contact and prayer in hopes that they will can be applied more widely, but the original repent and be reconciled, he said. context matters. Where “power differential Guretzki cautioned against sending people relationships” exist (abuser/abused, employer/ back into the situations where they are likely to employee), they must be dealt with differently. sin. An abused person is to be removed from the The passage isn’t dealing with a major abuser; home; an offer of counselling can be given to the nor is it about “how to win your case,” but “how abuser. to heal a relationship.”

In Matt. 18, the goal is to come to “agreeActivities ment.” If you can’t approach a person now, take “Deerly beloved, we are gathered here today in time to pray and prepare—prayer is a proper the presence of these humans who stare at us as love response. If you and the other person we strip needles from branches, eat grass, and can’t agree on the facts, bring one or two othenjoy the safety of the town.” Retreaters enjoyed ers to help establish them. They are not there to the whitetail deer that allow humans to live in intimidate, but to establish the truth (mediators Pinawa. protect the accused and accuser), he said.

People enjoyed visiting over meals, while solving puzzles or playing pool. Thanks to Pearl and Darren Plett, part of the planning committee, tournaments were held in minor sports. About two dozen people watched the Grey Cup game. Loyalties were mixed and comments were made. In the end, Darren Plett and David Guretzki guessed within two points of the final score; Tim Dyck was three off. Guretzki received a Blue Bomber football, which he can now proudly and openly display at his office at Caronport, Sask., in the heart of Rider Nation.

Four worship sessions were held with Vern Knutson and Janine Parkinson involved in music.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 23

National GAP Project

On Sunday evening, EMC moderator Abe Bergen shared results from the EMC’s participation in the Global Anabaptist Profile (GAP) project.

Our conference was one of four in North America to be profiled.

The results are available to each EMC church. Churches that participated can receive, upon asking, a PowerPoint showing how its responses compare with the wider EMC. Bergen is willing to visit churches to explain how the EMC’s positions compare with Anabaptist conferences around the world.

Talent Show

Late on Sunday night was a talent show: a musical duet and a solo, original songs presented, Bible reading while juggling, poetry read or recited, a story with a moral, and a quiz about favourite hymns and their questionable applications.

Monday Morning

David Guretzki said that the history of the Church includes the creative ways it finds to divide itself. Paul in Eph. 4:1-13 reminds us that we do not create the Church’s unity; Christ has done that. What we can do is to seek to maintain the unity of the Church through humility, patience, and forbearance. The passage speaks of seven “ones” (body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God and Father of all) that reflect our unity.

Our work at displaying unity is an attempt to demonstrate that we actually believe in the unity that exists among genuine churches. The Church acts as if it’s divided, but in reality it can’t be.

Unity is, however, not uniformity; it is shown in the diversity of our giftedness, he said.

Only respect for his professor made Vern Knutson shake hands with speaker Dr. David Guretzki, who won a Blue Bomber football he can now display in his office in Sask.

Vern prefers to say, “Go, Riders!”

When Paul speaks of many members in one body, he is perhaps going beyond thinking about individual congregations to a diversity of congregations. The apostle’s prayer (Eph. 4:14-17) is that we might know more about God’s love— a love so massive that it takes all of the saints through history to begin to contemplate it. Unity is not about me or us or my congregation, but the whole people of God, Guretzki said.

Prayer Time

On Monday morning, there was a time to bear each other’s burdens. Items were shared and groups formed to pray about health needs, church tensions, express gratitude for a past healing, and concern about the Ontario government’s examination of euthanasia.

Communion Service

Charles Koop led in Monday’s communion service. It’s done in remembrance of Christ and we need the reminder, he said. “I forget,” Koop said.

While communion often seems a sombre time, we should rejoice as we reflect on Christ’s grace that is new each day. It is a bit of heaven on earth. It’s all about Jesus, he said.

In Two Years’ Time

The ministerial retreat is held every second year.

It’s open to all EMC ministerial couples. If you attended this year, you’ll want to come back. If you missed out, the deer and the Board of Leadership and Outreach will welcome you in 2017.

This young buck is a co-owner of Pinawa, Man.

24 The Messenger • January 2016

Column • Further In and Higher Up

In the Shadow of Mennonite Terrorism

M

by Layton Friesen

ISTOCK

ennonites should feel a unique kinship with Muslims in Canada right now. Muslims are living under the shadow of suspicion created by extremists in their own religion.

Ordinary Muslims feel people’s questions and anger. At a rational level, most of us know that the vast majority of our Muslim neighbours are peaceful folk who simply want to raise their family according to their faith’s rule. And yet whenever a bomb goes off somewhere, everyone looks at them as if to ask, “What are you going to do about it?”

We Anabaptists should know a little of what that feels like. In 1534 a group of our Anabaptist ancestors “radicalized,” took the sword to the “godless,” and launched a spectacular take-down of the city of Münster in Germany. Now polygamy, ISIS-style beheadings, and suicide missions became Anabaptist practices. These terrorists held the city for sixteen months, attracting thousands of Anabaptists from the Low Countries to sign on. Copy-cat events took place in various towns in the Netherlands with Anabaptists attempting to take carry out the scourge of God’s wrath on “Satan.”

It all ended in a gruesome blood-bath when the Catholic bishop of Münster besieged the city and over-ran the half-starved population.

Into the aftermath of this fiasco stepped Menno Simons, whose main contribution was to teach a different way of being a Dutch Anabaptist.

But here’s Friar Cornelis, an interrogator thirty years after Münster, accusing a Dutch Anabaptist, Herman Vlekwijck: “Why would you deny that you Anabaptists have the women in common? They certainly were Anabaptists, who, at Amsterdam, forcibly took possession of the city hall, and who overpowered and took the city of Münster, and afterwards were besieged, bombarded, stormed, defeated, captured and put to death, with their king, Jan Beukelss. . . They certainly had women in common, yes, not only women but also the property; yes they robbed churches and

convents, in Holland, Friesland, and Gelderland.

Why would you say that these also were not of your brethren? You must be an idiot, I think” (Martyrs Mirror, 779).

The prickly thing is that the Friar has his facts right—sort of. Stuff like this happened in early Dutch Anabaptism and word of it spread, causing an immense suffering for their kinfolk all over Europe for decades. In 1963 a straightfaced historian, G. R. Elton, could still claim that Anabaptism was a “violent phenomenon born out of irrational and psychologically unbalanced dreams, resting on a denial of reason and the elevation of that belief in direct inspiration which enables men to do as they please” (Reformation Europe, 1517-1559).

But it was no longer true for the Anabaptists the Friar was interrogating. These had long since become pacifist, orderly Anabaptists. But how could they prove that, other than by quietly, peacefully waiting for the suspicion to tire itself out?

Anabaptists today should have nothing but the love of Christ for Muslims who live under the shadow of others who commit atrocities.

We should be their advocates and their friends.

We might even offer Muslims the lessons we learned, or are learning, the hard way. We should remind ourselves that our own Saviour died guilty by association.

“You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt” (Ex. 23:9).

Anabaptists today should have nothing but the love of Christ for Muslims who live under the shadow of others who commit atrocities.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 25

With Our Missionaries

Business beyond borders EUROPE/MENA

Blessings from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are not confined to the region’s geographic borders, according to James (name changed), a long-term worker who directs an OM business ministry. Although part of the MENA field for 15 years, he has never lived in the Arab world.

Frequent trips to the Middle East from 2000 to 2012 as area finance director and since then for transformational business meetings, have, however, given him insight into the culture. As he has developed and defined the concept of business as ministry, first linked to OM’s business for transformation (B4T) concept and now through his ministry, James has applied many lessons learnt in MENA. First, he mentioned dealing with widespread suspicion and distrust, understanding the nature of shame and honour, and creating business solutions not based solely on a western approach. “Sometimes the fastest way to get somewhere is to take your time,” he said. “Sometimes if you really want to have results, you need to take the time to let the process develop.”

Second, interpersonal input: “You have to focus on really building a relationship, developing an empathy with people,” he said, “learning to genuinely see people as created in the image of God.” Third, the financial takeaway. “Throwing money [at a project] is not a good solution,” he stated. “In many countries, it’s not uncommon for people to tell you almost anything they think you want to hear if they think there might be some money in it for Births them.”

MARTENS—To Dale and Alicia of Business Blumenort, Man., a son, Nathaniel Benaniah, on Sept. 29, 2015. solutions need PENNER—To Tim and Bethany of Steinbach, to avoid creatMan., a son, Mason Timothy, on Sept. 19, ing unhealthy 2015. dependenPLETT—To Riley and Colleen of Blumenort, cies based on Man., a son, Miciah James, on Sept. 16, 2015. western finanTEICHROW—To Henry and Kim of La Broquerie, Man., a son, Jack Robert, on Sept. cial support, he 16, 2015. said. Rather, “it’s TOEWS—To Wendall and Alicia of Winnipeg, important to Man., two daughters, Corina Joy and Abigail allow people to Grace, on Oct. 30, 2015. participate with WIEBE—To Greg and Dana of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Esmé Elizabeth Scott, on you in the soluNov. 22, 2015. tion and not just

26 The Messenger • January 2016

take whatever solution you offer to them. They have to be willing to put something into the process. Otherwise they won’t own it, and when you leave, it will just fall apart.”

His current business projects are mainly located in select MENA and African countries as well as southern and eastern Europe, partially because of proximity (he lives in Europe), partially based on the stability—or lack thereof—in the MENA region. At present, he not only applies lessons learnt from MENA elsewhere, but he also welcomes MENA’s appearance in new places—Iraqi businessmen in Europe and Lebanese entrepreneurs in Africa, for example.

“When we think of what God’s doing in the world right now, we start to see that our geographical borders are eroding,” he explained. “MENA has arrived on my doorstep.”

“The world is changing and emerging, no longer as rigidly defined demographically,” he added. “The things we have learned out of MENA can actually transfer to other places as well… This is kind of like the MENA blessing extending beyond its borders.”

However, he hasn’t lost sight of the developing needs within the region.

“We need to be keeping our eyes open, preparing ourselves, so that when the time comes and things settle down in northern Iraq and Syria, we can be engaging,” he said.

The same is true for countries in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where on-going conflicts have ravaged infrastructure and ruined livelihoods.

– Nicole James

Inner City Youth Alive

With Our Missionaries

I long for this gospel to change us!

RESOURCING PASTORS FOR MINISTRY

February 8-10, 2016

Theme: Proclaiming the Good News (Acts 8:35) ReNew 2016 is intended for ALL involved in ministry, within the sponsoring conferences, or any other congregation.

More information at: cmu.ca/renew

CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY 500 Shaftesbury Blvd. Winnipeg, MB Canada R3P 2N2

BOM

MEXICO

We as missionaries recently had the privilege of enjoying a retreat together for five days. Pastor Darryl and Sharon Klassen came out to minister to us and we had a wonderful time together. The highlight of the retreat was our discussion times where we talked about 2 Timothy and guarding the gospel.

In an ever changing world where the line is being blurred between what we, the church, hold to be truth and what the world believes to be truth, it was good to get back to the basics of our faith. We were challenged to look at what the Bible says the gospel is and then put it into our own words in a way we could explain to others.

We needed to think carefully about what was it exactly that Jesus did for us, and why, and evaluate it against scripture. This was a huge blessing to me. While we all understand the enormity of what Jesus did for us, and the plan God had from the beginning, we need to go back to it regularly and reflect on it.

We need to let it sink in because, in light of what God has done for us, it can’t help but create a spirit of overwhelming thankfulness and motivation to share this amazing gift with the world.

In light of this reality, we are entrusted with guarding the truths and sound teaching that we find within the Bible. Satan is all about distorting truth, making it appear good and right while subtly perverting the truth to lead us away from God. We need to be a church that holds and defends the truth in a loving way. God has entrusted us

Tara and Dallas Wiebe and family

with this responsibility and we need to hold tightly to the truth, whether the attacks come from the outside or from within.

As we identify with Christ and refuse to bend to the perverted truth that the world presents, this will lead to suffering and we need to be prepared to face this reality.

We live in a world where following Christ is not popular or easily accepted, and the church is facing growing criticism, some justified, much of it not. If we are disciples of Jesus, should we really expect and demand a warmer reception than Jesus did?

This gospel is all about restoring a right relationship with God and through this relationship God uses us to share his message of hope, peace, joy, and restoration with the world. He does this by transforming us.

We need to be a church that is a changed and changing church, but based on the character and instructions of God. Then we can truly shine in the darkness and bring living water to those drawing from broken cisterns.

I long for this gospel to continue to take hold of us as a church, to change us and use us to be a voice of truth in a confused and broken world just as Paul did for Timothy and the church.

– Dallas Wiebe Dallas and Tara Wiebe (Kleefeld) are a part of the EMC church planting team in the city of Guadalajara.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 27

With Our Churches Northern Fellowship Chapel

Interview with Marg Cone, part two

RESPONDING REBUILDING RESTORING

To find out how you can help bring people home: call

1-866 866--261 261--1274 or go online

mds.mennonite.net 28 The Messenger • January 2016

take attendance and record the offering. I have helped with communion as well. I have tried to fit in wherever needed and did not have any special talent.

It sounds like you are very talented, Marg. Tell me more please.

At one time, we had young people attending, some teachers, or nurses and maybe I was a mentor Marg Cone or even provided transportation. I remember one time that we took young people out and visited the Meachems at Jan Lake. I think this was at the time of Harvey Kroeker.

Have you lived in Creighton a long time?

I had my own house, then moved to Creighton senior housing to two locations, and now live in Legion housing in Flin Flon where I am closer to my family-grandkids and great grandchildren. Even though I live in Flin Flon, I don’t intend to drop NFC! Well, Marg, we are so happy to have you come as always, even in winter! I know you are on the church board and Randall and Faith Krahn as well as Lorne and Margaret Moorhead appreciate you very much.

They are very kind to me and I enjoy their company as well as everyone in our congregation. I still like to greet each one and hand out the bulletins.

To wrap up, bring me up to date on your immediate and extended family.

I have three siblings left. I have lost a sister and a brother in this past year. I have seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren!

Do you have anything else you would like to share?

Well, I have found that we all have regrets, but I have a hard time forgiving myself. I also miss the old hymns.

We do sing them now and then, but I miss them as they remind me of times past. I also find changes in life very hard, but I am working at that.

Thanks, Margaret, for sharing with me today!

Marg turned 90 in August 2015. She is a treasure to us at NFC. – Janice Imrie NFC

CREIGHTON, Sask.—Terry Smith asked me to interview Margaret Cone, now 90, a long-standing member of Northern Fellowship Chapel. Part of it appeared in Dec. 2015 issue. Here is more of the interview.

Do you remember some highlights or difficult times?

Sometimes, as a widow, I felt alone. There were so many couples and I felt uncomfortable and felt left out sometimes. A highlight was when my sister Kay decided to join our congregation. It was so nice for me. She left in the late 80’s, but I treasure the time she was with me. I remember Dan and Norma Koop were the pastoral couple when Jack died and I remember how supportive they were to us. I remember how sad I felt after Dan and Lottie Thiessen left. Lottie was ill. I really missed them and the church struggled at that time. A highlight I just thought of was “Singspiration.” We invited other churches on a Sunday evening and it was a time of singing and sharing.

Tell me about some other people at NFC. Dan and Norma Koop left and then came George and Elsie Braun. The Brauns took up the support that I needed.

They visited Creighton last summer and I had a wonderful time with them. They live in southern Alberta. I bought their house (trailer) on Fourth when they left. I also remember Harvey Kroeker who came after Thiessens and then Terry and Mary Ann Smith. They all worked so hard.

In what ways were you involved in the church over the years?

I liked Bible Study and I thought it was so important.

I helped with Daily Vacation Bible School at one time. I was involved with Mary Martha Mission and we would send care packages out. In the service I would often be a greeter (I still do this) and read scripture for the service. I

With Our Churches Crestview Fellowship

Fall supper and parent-child dedication

CRESTVIEW

WINNIPEG, Man.—Our fall supper was held on Sunday, Nov. 22. Over eighty people enjoyed a delicious traditional turkey supper with all the fixings. A huge thank you to the ladies of the Food Committee for all their hard work.

The leftover food was taken to the Union Gospel Mission. Following the meal we were privileged to be led in a time of worship by four talented young men, former and current students from SBC. What a blessed evening we had!

“Let the little children come to me” (Luke 18:16). A parent-child dedication service took place on Sunday, Nov. 29. Parents Kevin and Lee Pauls dedicated Desmond, and Blaine and Lisa Triskle dedicated Marlie.

– Sharron Straub

•• Many Rooms Church Community

Love triumphs over violence and hate

MRCC

WINNIPEG, Man.—How do Anabaptists live out pacifist convictions during times of relative peace? In the core area of Winnipeg, an annual Walk For Peace draws many diverse neighbours. The walk was on Sept.

21, the International Day for Peace.

A common refrain in this walk is that love triumphs over violence and hate. People from Many Rooms Church Community join our neighbourhood in this celebration every fall. As believers, we give testimony to Christ’s reconciling work in each of our own lives, in our families, our church, and our neighbourhood.

– Jennifer Kornelsen Many Rooms joined in a walk for peace.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 29

With Our Churches Blumenort EMC

Eagle Lake Bible Camp continued its ministry

BEMC

BLUMENORT, Man.—Eagle Lake Bible Camp, located near Vermilion Bay, Ont., is a ministry of the Blumenort and Vermilion Bay churches, with Dean Block serving as director.

During the 2015 summer, 390 campers attended during seven weeks of camp: one senior teen week, two junior teen weeks, two children’s weeks, and two weeks for the teens and children of the Wabaseemoong First Nation.

Eagle Lake Bible Camp is run almost entirely by volunteers—from cooks to counselors, program coordinators to maintenance workers. All positions are necessary and equally valued.

This year there were 143 people of all ages serving at camp for at least one week during the summer, both from the supporting churches and from the community. Many counseling staff are past campers who themselves have been influenced in their walk with God through their camp experience.

The summer began with a first ever staff retreat held the weekend before Senior Teen Camp. It was a privilege to have Sid Koop come early to encourage camp staff before he spoke to the Senior Teens.

A big highlight at all weeks of Eagle Lake Bible Camp was the water sports—both swimming and tubing. God provided lifeguards in an amazing way once again. Crafts and recreation, especially the famous “straw game,” are

other highlights that youth look forward to each year. Only a few minor injuries were incurred.

Chapel sessions were held morning and evening with enthusiastic singing, skits, testimonies, and creative speakers bringing the Gospel to life with stories, drawings and object lessons. In and outside of chapel, the Holy Spirit was working to draw campers to a knowledge of Jesus and a deeper revelation of His love.

Our prayer is that these short weeks of summer camp will have had an impact on the lives of youth for eternity.

– Heather Kroeker Janice Harder, Reporter

•• Blumenort EMC

BLUMENORT, Man.—We celebrated on Nov. 22, 2015 as five individuals identified with Christ in water baptism. Serena Penner, Emily Reimer, Lia Penner, Erik Friesen, and Jaeden Giesbrecht all gave their testimonies on how they came to Christ. Pastor Anthony Reimer performed the baptismal ceremony. Let’s do our part and uphold these young people in prayer as they seek to follow Jesus and do his will.

– Janice Harder

30 The Messenger • January 2016

BEMC

Five baptized at Blumenort

With Our Churches Anola Fellowship Chapel

AFC

Members received, dedications happened

New Members: Damien Cosens, Elenor and Walter Wiebe, Elmer and Gaille Friesen, Jonathan Wichers, Pastor Jack Cosens.

ANOLA, Man.—On Sunday, June 28, we welcomed several new members by baptism and transfer. Damien Cosens, Walter Wiebe, and Jonathan Wichers were baptized and accepted into membership. Elenor Wiebe as well as Elmer and Gaille Friesen were transferred into membership. On

Dedicated: Mike and Heather Hildebrandt with Carter, Jonathan and Eileen Bouw with Karis, and Garth and Stephanie Allan with Lewis and Mabel.

Sunday, Nov. 22, our church held a parent-child dedication with Pastor Jack Cosen officiating. The families involved were Mike and Heather Hildebrandt with Carter, Jonathan and Eileen Bouw with Karis, and Garth and Stephanie Allan with Lewis and Mabel.

– Jessica Wichers

•• Morweena EMC

Three new members MORWEENA, Man.—On Nov. 15 Jason Kornelson, Natalia Payne, and Samantha Hamm were baptized by Larry Payne, one of our ministers. Donovan and Cathy Dueck (youth pastoral couple) did Christian Life classes with the three young people. We were happy to hear their faith stories and invite them into our membership.

– Eric Isaac

KLASSEN-PENNER—Chris Klassen and Bethany Penner were married on Nov. 7, 2015. The couple lives in Winnipeg.

MEMC

Weddings Donovan Dueck, Jason Kornelson, Natalia Payne, Samantha Hamm and Cathy Dueck

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 31

With Our Churches Portage Evangelical Church

Settling in and getting ship shape

PEC

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man.—Here is an update from a missionary couple connected with PEC, Jeremy and Lori Schier, who serve with YWAM Ships: We have now (late November) finished four weekends in our new apartment. I still feel a bit uncertain about what to call the place where we live. It feels a bit strange to use the Australian reference to our “unit,” but “flat” and “apartment” are also appropriate. It’s not a house, but it is home and has become home so quickly.

In October in San Diego, I completed a one-week course in Electronic Chart Display Information Systems and another week of Shipboard Leadership and Management.

The day after I returned to Townsville from California, we moved into our unit and four days later I sailed our older ship Pacific Link to Port Moresby, Jeremy and Lori Schier serve with YWAM Townsville, out of Australia.

Papua New Guinea. After handing the ship over to a project manager to oversee maintenance work and drydock, I returned to Townsville two weeks ago. The refit of Australia, so outboards from Australia are not warranthe YWAM PNG is taking shape with the medical facilitied if used in PNG. So we ordered two 100hp four-stroke ties nearing completion. Last week four brand new dental Yamahas from PNG that arrived in Townsville last week chairs were installed and development of the laboratory for installation on the new boat. facility is underway.

Next year the ship will have five small boats. The bigIn another week gest remaining project on the ship for the next two months or so installation will is installation of the cranes and cradles. We have also start for a dumbordered a satellite dish to maximize our data capacity. waiter begin between On Tuesday we submitted our application for perthe galley and dining manent residence here in Australia. It is amazing how Manitoba room. We have also complicated this process is when you serve with a volordered a 7.6m (25’) unteer organization. There are still many hurdles, but we March 11-13 zodiac-type boat to have found a good immigration lawyer and look forward to EMC Young Adult Retreat be soon delivered. overcoming the challenges over the next 12 to 16 months.

Among other things, I will have to go through the July 1-3 This South African EMC National Convention model is supposed to major application process of getting my maritime qualifido particularly well cations formally recognized by Australia. I expect to hear a in the tropics. I have result in three months, at which time I will have to take an World-Wide high expectations oral exam down in Brisbane (a 16-hour drive south). that this will really The next two months will continue to be busy as the January 25 increase our capacity Pacific Link commences outreaches in January and as we World Fellowship Sunday to get teams to and prepare the YWAM PNG to sail again at the beginning of March 8-22 from the villages.

February. Thank you for your ongoing support, prayer and Paraguay Prayer Team Fuel quality in friendship.

PNG is different than – Jeremy and Lori Schier

Calendar

32 The Messenger • January 2016

Shoulder Tapping *With any applications for EMC church pastoral positions, candidates are expected to also register a Ministry Information Profile with the EMC Board of Leadership and Outreach, which can be obtained through Erica Fehr, BLO Administrative Assistant, at efehr@emconf.ca or 204-326-6401.

with a vision for youth evangelism and discipleship.

There is a program for students in grades 7-12.

Individuals or couples may apply. Submit resume with references, personal statement of faith, or any questions to search committee chairman at: bdowler@mts.net, or Box 101, Anola, MB R0E 0A0.

EMC Positions*

Abbeydale Christian Fellowship, Calgary, seeks a full-time lead pastor to work alongside our current associate pastor and leadership team. The ideal candidate has served at least ten years as pastor (five as lead), is a good preacher and communicator, and relates easily with people of all ages. He works well in a team and as a mentor, has relevant education, and will require EMC approval. The ministry focus is discipleship through preaching, teaching, encouraging small groups, and prayer. He will also lead in pastoral care. We are an urban congregation of 125 with an informal atmosphere. We are committed to love through service to one another and to our community. Please see the full profile at http://abbeydale. org/index.php/careers, and then apply in confidence to search@abbeydale.org.

Taber EMC is seeking a full-time youth/associate pastor. Candidate should have the ability to plan and oversee a comprehensive youth ministry and oversee associate pastor ministries as arranged by the church leadership. Valuable assets would be skills in sports and music. Contact church board chair Abe Klassen at 403-223-0588 or 403-331-9563. Send resumes to Taber EMC, Box 4348, Taber, AB T1G 2C7 or taberemc@ yahoo.ca.

Mennville EMC, a rural congregation with an attendance of about 90, located in Manitoba's Interlake region, seeks a full- or part-time pastor. The pastor will work within a ministerial team as the church seeks to renew and grow. College or seminary training and pastoral experience are definite assets.

Starting date is flexible and salary will reflect EMC guidelines. A candidate should be a collaborative leader (team player), comfortable in the pulpit and in pastoral care, familiar with the EMC Statement of Faith, and respectful of various cultures and rural living. Contact minister Terry Dueck at frontier104@ hotmail.com.

High Level Christian Fellowship (HLCF) is seeking a full-time pastor. HLCF is a diverse but well established congregation serving in a community where oil and gas, farming and forestry are the driving industries. HLCF has an average attendance of 130 members and adherents. The successful candidate would be able to relate and work well with people working together towards building an active community of believers. If God is directing you in this mission please forward your resume to either Jake Neufeld at j.neufeld@peacecountrypetroleum.com or Greg Derkson at mariederkson@gmail.com or by phone Jake (780-821-9432) or Greg (780-926- 9553).

Treesbank Community Church is a small rural church in southwest Manitoba that is seeking a pastor to lead our congregation and outreach in our community. This could be on a full- or part-time basis. It could be on a flexible schedule to allow a student to do some practicum while still in college, or to allow someone to transition to retirement on a part-time flexible schedule. If you are interested in church leadership and outreach and feel God calling you to this type of ministry, please contact Leonard Plett at 204-824-2475 or at lplett@mts.net.

The Anola Fellowship Chapel (EMC) is presently looking to fill the church youth leader position. This is a part-time paid position. We are looking for someone

Other Positions

preaching, and leading Bible studies are some of the more formal “programs” that exist today, but, most importantly, people either need to accept Jesus or follow Him in victory. We are building a team passionate about following God by discipling people into mature Christians and ultimately replacing our leadership positions from those we work with. Please email us at generaldirector.mcl@gmail.com for a full job description or inquiries.

Bagot Community Chapel (EMMC) located at Bagot, Man., is in search of an associate pastor. We are a growing rural church with a lot of young families and an average attendance of 125 to 150. For a complete job description and application form visit bagotchapel.com.

Christian Summer Camp Staff-Brightwood Ranch located near Edmonton, serves kids from single parent, foster and group homes. We hire camp counselors, kitchen staff, wranglers, program directors, maintenance, unit leaders, nurses and a climbing wall instructor. Salary plus room and board. May and June starts dates. www.hopemission.com/ summercamp

Where are position ads to be sent?

MCC service positions, AKRON, PA - Do you know someone interested in service? Mennonite Central Please send all position ads, including pastoral Committee needs service workers in our Akron, PA, search ads, to messenger@emconf.ca. All ads are office for these positions: Administrative Assistants, to be 150 words or less. All ads can be edited.

Canner Operators, Instructional Technologist, Please advise us when it is no longer needed.

Receptionist. Assignments are one- or two-year commitments.

MCC covers the cost of transCanadian School portation to and from of assignment, housing, AN INSTITUTE OF CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY daily living expenses, medical insurance and June 13–17 & 20–24, 2016 assistance with student Come this summer to learn with other loans. For more inforpeacebuilders – local and international, mation see serve.mcc. young and old, students, practitioners, and org or email akronconthose new to peacebuilding – at the eighth nection@mcc.org. annual Canadian School of Peacebuilding.

We invite you to participate in your choice Mid-Way Christian of five-day courses for personal inspiration, Leadership seeks a professional development, or academic credit. full-time caring team member to support the small group of believers in Grand Rapids, Man., Reconciling ouR the BiBlical StoRy peace SKillS under the leadership of Fred and Stella Neff.

FutuRe: StoRieS oF oF hope and healing pRactice It is a paid position Kanata and canada Instructor: Instructor: moving into a raised Instructor: Dan Epp-Tiessen Natasha support funding model.

Niigaanwewidam Mohammed The individual will supJames Sinclair port Christians as they grow into the Christian leaders of the north in Manitoba. Helping lead Sunday School, CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY

Peacebuilding

Sample Courses

csop.cmu.ca

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 33

Column • Here and Far Away

Rest at Kerith Pines

“F

JOCELYN R. PLETT

by Jocelyn R. Plett www.writewhatyousee. wordpress.com

or relief of aches and pain associated with acute muscle or joint injuries… Rest may also be helpful to assist the relief of associated discomfort.” This muscle-gel’s instructions are apropos in our world today. Many of us try to apply pain-relieving measures while in the thick of work and ministry, battling to continue when our minds and bodies simply need to rest.

Our current six-month furlough was to recover from significant burnout. For months we struggled along, trying to work under such fatigue that we no longer realized we were tired.

Press on—isn’t that what people in ministry are to do, no matter the obstacles?

Once in Canada, settling in for a half-year of professional development and rest, I could see Josh start to twitch in his usual reaction to “inactivity.”

Yet, now that our time is nearly over, we’ve learned for ourselves that “resting in the Lord is not a static but a dynamic activity.” Mark 4:27-28 says, “Night and day, whether [the sower] sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain.” “Perhaps we avoid rest because we think of it as doing nothing, yet while we do ‘nothing, the Lord can accomplish His greatest work’”(Mason, Champagne for the Soul, 11).

Indeed, our “resting” has been hard work! I sense that a lot of work is being done in me simply because we’ve had the luxury to simply rest, read, and learn things of God. The seven days we spent at Kerith Pines Lodge, a Focus on the Family ministry at East Braintree, Man., was instrumental in this.

What is unique about this retreat was that it has huge swaths of time set aside to truly rest. The intentionally open schedule is meant to allow greater reflection and meditation, to encourage resting and receiving the ministrations of the Lord without the distractions of the

Kerith Pines was wonderful for our marriage, our ministry, and our individual soul refreshment.

34 The Messenger • January 2016

world, our work, and all the “good” things we fill our time with.

Kerith Pines allowed us uninterrupted time to talk through some intense issues we have faced in the last few years and where we saw God leading us into the future. We did our processing walking in the woods, relaxing in the fabulous lodge, and soaking in the hot-tub. We were ministered to by the Lord—as Elijah was (1 Kings 17:2-4)—through the beautiful surroundings, the great food and care we received from the host couple, and the insightful group sessions.

Kerith Pines was wonderful for our marriage, our ministry, and our individual soul refreshment.

Many people in ministry never acknowledge their needs for rest and rejuvenation, nor permit themselves to retreat from the demands of ministry to be ministered to. This often leads to burn-out. We’ve learned that rest is an imperative part of ministry. “…for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest” (Heb. 4:9-10).

Kerith Retreats has two locations, in Manitoba and Alberta (see kerithretreats.ca). We would highly recommend it. See my blog post on the same topic.

Column • stewardship today

God loves a cheerful receiver

M

by Arnie Friesen

DESIGNPICS

ost of us are not good at receiving compliments. A friend delivered a fine sermon so I gave him a heartfelt compliment. His deflective, “humble” response was to give all credit to God. I replied, “I could swear I saw your lips moving!”

Perhaps more striking is our inability to be gracious recipients of other people’s generosity. It is deeply ingrained in us that it is more blessed to give than receive. Albert Einstein reinforces this notion: “The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”

Clearly the deck is stacked in favour of the generous giver.

E. G. Link identifies three causes to “this graceless receiving malady” in his blog post The Grace of Receiving.

The first cause is our subtle form of pride.

When we have more than enough, we find it difficult to receive a gift. The more we own, the more we feel it beneath us to accept a gift from others. I often pick up the tab when enjoying an outing with a person whom I assume is wealthier than me. The reaction of unequivocal surprise is worth the gesture. However, don’t be shocked if your generosity is met with indignation, as if to say, “How dare you? I am not a charity case.”

The second cause is our subtle form of legalism. How many times have you offered to repay generosity? “I’ll buy you lunch next time” is not generosity, but is simply reciprocating payments (taking turns to pay). Other times your gift may be refused with a scolding: “You shouldn’t have,” “I can’t accept that.” In such cases, the giver and receiver experience no blessing at all.

The third cause is a subtle form of ingratitude. This includes such thoughts as, “I don’t deserve this gift” or “Others need this more than I do.” Perhaps we should focus less on the gift and more on the generous attitude of the giver.

In my work with Mennonite Foundation of Canada, I frequently hear about the gift that

went unacknowledged by the recipient. A true gift is given unconditionally and with no strings attached. But every gift deserves the courtesy of a simple thank you.

An additional cause is a subtle form of entitlement. People who have enjoyed the gifts of others as a way of life may eventually live with a sense of prerogative. Volunteers who work in food banks will attest that on occasion they deal with ungrateful recipients. It is their perceived right to demand specific products.

How do we become gracious receivers, enhancing the blessing for the giver? Once again, we can learn from Jesus and his overwhelming appreciation and endorsement when receiving an outrageous gift of perfume from a woman (Mark 14). People resisted the gift on his behalf, but Jesus defended her actions. Receiving graciously blesses the giver.

Yes, there is joy and much reward in giving, but let’s also exercise the grace of receiving so that the grace of giving will flourish. After all, one helps the other to thrive.

How do we become gracious receivers, enhancing the blessing for the giver?

Mennonite Foundation of Canada facilitates the gifting process. Generous clients are able to give anonymously to charities of their choice so they have no need to worry about responses. Arnie Friesen is an MFC consultant in the Abbotsford, BC, office.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 35

Column • kids’ corner

A new year, a new start

J

DESIGNPICS

by Loreena Thiessen

anuary is the month for something new.

First, it’s fun to write the new number, 2016.

The first day back, school feels new again.

The ground has a fresh new covering of white.

You may have a few new things too, a new sweater or skates. The New Year offers a chance for a fresh new start.

Some people make New Year’s resolutions.

The word resolution is from the word to resolve.

To resolve is to decide on something new or to change something. For example, you decide you will do your homework before supper so you’ll have more time to play after supper.

Or you decide to replace an hour of video games with an hour of reading starting in the New Year. These decisions are resolutions. We like to start something new in the New Year.

How will you decide what to do? Think of something good you managed to do last year.

Maybe you did really well in Math and got

excellent marks. Did you work extra hard for it? Could you do the same in Spelling, get more words right if you put in a bit of extra time studying them?

You may want to do something new, like learn how to paint with acrylics, or do the butterfly stroke in swimming. You may want to improve your bowling score, learn a new techActivity: My record of my new goals nique throwing the ball to get more strikes.

Need: notebook, pen or pencil Make sure your decision to do something, or to make the change you Do: divide a page of your notebook in three columns. Going across the page want, is clear and precise. For example, label the columns like this: don’t just think you want a tidier room, Instead hang up those clothes clean Last year New goal What I’ve done enough to wear again and toss dirty __________________________________________________________________ ones directly into the laundry basket.

If you want to read more, choose Reading a book you like, then decide the time __________________________________________________________________ and place to actually sit down and read.

Then do it. If you want to get better at Bowling tennis, ask someone to play with you. __________________________________________________________________ Agree on a day of the week at a specific time. Then keep the date and play.

My room Make sure the thing you want __________________________________________________________________ to do is something you can do, that it’s manageable and it fits into your On the left indicate three areas you want to work on in the New Year. You schedule. Learning something new choose. Fill in the information for last year; for example, how many books you can be fun. It can help you feel good read, your highest bowling score, items scattered over the floor in your room. about yourself, and about your ability.

In the next column, write in your new goal for each area. Then as you reach Ask God to help you do it. Read Isayour new goal write in what you were able to do. Write in the date you did it. iah 41:10.

You will clearly see your progress and you will feel good about it.

36 The Messenger • December 2015

The Messenger Evangelical Mennonite Conference 440 Main St., Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362